Roof and cap for silos.



C. H. SNOW, Sn.

ROOF AND CAP FOR SILOS. APPLICATION FILED MAYIG. me.

1,210,71 8. Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

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C. H. SNOW, Sn.

ROOF AND CAP FOR SILOS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16. ms.

1 ,2 1 0,7 1 8. Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

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C. H- SNOW, SR.

ROOF AND CAP FOR SILOS;

APPLICATION FILED MAY I6. 1916.

Patented Jan. 2,1917.

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CLYDE H. SNOW, SR., OF AURELIUS, MICHIGAN.

ROOF AND CAP FOR SILOS.

Application filed May 16, 1916.

constructed that wheniopen it; forms avertical continuation of. the wall of the silo, and when closed forms a strong watertight roof of good appearance, and of a durable character.

It is a very important object to give a construction of roof of this kind which can be quickly manipulated without difliculty, and which is especially desirable because of the facility with which it may be installed upon a silo.

It is a further important object to simplify the details of manufacture of the parts whereby stock material may be used, and operations involved in its production Wlll be minimized.

It is an important purpose to give a construction of roof of this character which may be opened or closed by a small number of workmen, itbeing possible for one person to open or close the device'if necessary.

It is an especially important aim to providean efficient form of removable cap for conical roofs.

Additional objects, advantages, and features of invention will appear from the construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and shown in the drawings, Where, i

Figure 1 is an elevation of the upper part of a silo equipped with my invention, in one embodiment, Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view of the silo with the roof closed, Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional viewof the roof at its central part, showing the cap mechanism, Fig. 4 is a horizontallseotional view on the line4-4 of Fig. 1, approximately, Fig. 5 isja sectional view on the line 2.2 of Fig. 2. Fig. 61 is a detail perspective view of one of the roof sections, Fig. 7 is a detail of themounting of the roofv sections on the walls of the silo, Fig. 8 is a similar view at right angles to- Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a top view of the roof section mounting, Fig. 10

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

Serial No. 97,978.

is a fragmentary interior elevation of the roof in open position, Fig. 11 is a detail of the connections between the wing elements and the roof sections, Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view thereof, Fig.13 is an outer edge view thereof partly in section, showing one of the cave sections in elevation.

There is illustrated the upper portion of a silo wall 10, of circular form, including upright standards 11 at intervals, between which there are fitted planiform panels 12,

although my device is adapted for use on various forms of silo wall construction.

On each of the standards 11 at their upper ends there are secured T-iron base pieces 18, having an inner vertical portion 1& se-

cured to the inner face of the uprights in a suitable manner, and an intermediate portion 15 extended horizontally across the top end of the uprights, while the outer end portion 16 is extended diagonally downward, at a suitable inclination. Fixed on each side of the intermediate portion 15, and in the present instance comprising a twin bracket, there is a roof supporting socket piece 17, having a semi-spherical'socket portion 18 on each side, suitable cap pieces 19 being provided at each side to engage over the bracket ortion, and secured to the supporting piece 1 ,a ball element 20 being confined under each cap piece, these balls having stems 21 extended upwardly and attached to roof sections 22 to be described.

The roof. sections 22 are of triangular form, suitably stiffened, their shape being such that they will lie snugly edge to edge at the proper slope to form a continuous circular roof as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In the present instance each section comprises an angle iron 23 bent to the proper shape to form the sides and small end of the section, suitable sheet metal 24 being secured to the angle iron, fixed to form the body of the section. The angle iron is bent with one flange extending toward the inner part of 1 tions. The stem elements 21 by which the sections are supported are secured to the ex tremities of the angle iron pieces, being riveted to the vertical angles thereof. With the arrangement shown, it will be seen that one supporting stem is attached to each slde of each roof section. 7

Supported by the outer end portion 16 of the T-iron pieces 13 before mentioned, and carried between each two, there are respective 'eave roof sections 26, each formed of sheet metal and comprising a body portion conforming with the shape of the space between the T-irons, one edge portion 27 being turned upwardly to lie beside the vertical rib 28 of one T-iron, while its opposite edge portion is turned upwardly, thence extended laterally a distance, and then bent downwardly so as to cover the adjacent vertical portion 28 of the T-iron, and also the upturned portion 27 of the adjacent eave section. The outer transverse edge portion of the-section 26 is bent downwardly and thence inwardly to form a stiffening and retaining piece 30, which engages under the transverse flanges of the T-iron as shown in Fig.

13.. The inner part of the section 26 is extended upwardly adjacent the inner side of the silo, as shown at 31, and thence downwardly as at 3.2, a sufficient distance to enable the attachment of the inner edge portion to the inner side of the silo wall. The upwardly extended portion 31 isdisposed so as to engage inwardly of the lower edge of the adjacent roof section when in closed position, thus completely closing the silo at the junction of the roof sections-and wall.

Secured to the inner face of the lateral flange at each side of each roof section there are two pivot brackets 35, one adjacent the lower part of the roof section, and the other adjacent the inner or swingingend. These brackets have tapered openings therein, the larger parts of which open on the side of the bracket which is. disposed toward the center of the silo when the roof is closed, and consequently open upward when the silo roof,

sections are moved outwardly to vertical position. Carried by each opposed two br-acketson adjacent roof sections there are jointed wing carrier irons 36, 36, each formed in two sections, consisting of suitable rod material having an outer down turned tapered pivot end 37, adapted to fit snugly in a respective pivot bracket 35. One section 36 is formed with a ball'at its swinging end, while the other section 36" is formed with a socket piece 40, a suitable cap 41 being attached thereto slotted at one side to permit oscillation of the sections 36, 36 as required, on one side, while at the opposite side the socket piece 40 is formed with a stop 42 by which relative swinging movement of the sections is prevented in one direction. The stop 42 is located at the inner side when one of the carriers is properly engaged with the pivot brackets 35. Wing elements 45 are provided, to close the space between the roof sections when moved outwardly to vertical position, there belng two wing sections in each space between tworoof sections. The wing sections are attached to, the wing carrier sections at the upper and lower parts on respective sides, and are located inwardly of the wing carrier. As shown, some space is left between the mutually adjacent edges of each pair of wing sections when the roof is extended, as shown at 46, in .Fig. 10, although this space is not essential and they may beadjusted to lie in close abutting posi-- tion shut it is. necessary to permit free movement of thestop elements 42 on the socket piece by which outward movement of the wing is limited.

By the construction of roof described, the

-height. of the silo may be considerably lengthened, so that advantage may be taken of the weight of ensila'ge introduced thereinto. to compress the'contents of the silo to av greaterextentthan would be possible if it:

were merely filled to the top of the wall "10. The roof .is adjusted in the open elevated position illustrated in Fig. 1 during filling of the'silo, and allowed to remain'so, after the silo has been filled to the desired extent above the wall 10; and after the contents have been compacted sufliciently, the roof is closed to the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. In closing the roof it is only necessary to bear inwardly upon the wings, which will permit the roof sections to fall into proper place, the wings folding downwardly automatically and holding the roof sections with their edges in proper alinement. If-desired, the wing elements may be lifted from engagement with the roof sections without manipulation of any fastenings, owing to the tapered form of the -.pivot element by .which they are supported upon the roof sections. This may be found desirable inopen ing the; roof where only a small number of -workmeniare available for the purpose. In

the neck portion 21 after the roof section .has moved very slightly outward beyond the vertical.

It is not desirable to bring the roof sections to an acute point at their inner end,

and Iconstruct them for that reason in the manner shown in Fig. 6, where they are so proportioned as to stop short of the center of the silo a considerable distance when in closed position. This leaves an enlarged opening 47, .at the center of the roof which is closed by means of a specially formed manually removable cap 50 now tobe described. The cap comprises a conical roof element 51, of suitable weight and material, adapted to project over a part of the roof sections described when disposed concentrically over the opening 47. At its central parta bed plate 52 is secured to the underside of the portions 51, having suitable ears 53 formed in pairs thereunder, between which there are pivoted retaining levers 54 having at their bases geared segments 55. Engaged slidably through the roof cap there is a plunger rod 56 having a hand hold 57 at the upper end, located without the cap and so constructed as to close the opening in the cap through which the plunger reciprocates, as at 59. The plunger 56 has secured thereto a rack element 60, meshed with the gear segments 55, and stopping short of the plate 52 so that when the plunger 57 is drawn upwardly, it may have sufficient movement to move the gear segments as required. When the plunger 56 is at the lower limit of its movement the arms 54 lie close against the underside of the roof section threreadjacent, and a suitable spring 61 is provided confined between the roof cap and the rack 60 to hold it at the lower limit of its movement, whereby the arms will be borne upwardly against the underside of the roof with sufficient force to hold the cap 50 securely. It is not necessary for the rack 60 to be secured rigidly to the plunger 56, and

in the present case the plunger is shown to be slidably engaged with the rack, a suitable head 62 being formed at the lower end of the plunger to insure upward movement of the rack when the plunger is drawn outwardly, the rack being returned to initial position by action of the spring. The plunger may move a distance after the movement of the rack 60 has been checked by engagement of the arm 54 with the roof, 1f desired, which may be attained by properly proportioning the parts, as will be readily understood, and insures the cap and its holding mechanism being automatically adapted to roofs having various thicknesses at their inner edge portions.

The cap being in place as shown in Fig. 3, in order to effect its movement it is only necessary to grasp the hand-hold 57 and lift upwardly, this causing the arms 54 to swing downwardly, and as soon as they have moved inwardly sufficiently to clear the edges of the opening 47 the cap may be lifted by the hand-hold 57, one quick movement being sufficient for the release and removal of the cap. In order to replace the cap, the plunger is drawn upwardly while the cap is pressed downwardly, and after the levers 54 have been moved inwardly a sufiicient distance, the cap is dropped into position and the plunger released, the levers 54 then swinging upwardly and automatically clamping the device in place.

It may be found desirable to form the flanges 25 on each side of one of the roof sections, as indicated immediately to the right of the center of Fig. 1, and to omit the flanges from both sides of the next adjacent section at one side, as indicated at 25 on the left of the center of Fig. 1. This will enable the lifting of the sections having the two flanges without interference by the next adjacent roof section, facilitating the starting of the raising of the roof by a single person, if that should be necessary.

What is claimed:

1. A roof of the character described comprising amultiplicity of sections constructed and mounted for movement from open position into closed snugly abutting position in a relation to form a circular roof having an opening centrally thereof, a cap constructed to fit over the opening, means on the cap movable to engage the under side of the roof, means tending to operate the said means on the cap, including a manually operable element exteriorly of the cap.

2. A roof of the character described comprising a plurality of sections constructed and mounted for movement from open positions into a snugly abutting position in a relation to form a circular-outlined roof and provided with a central opening at the upper end thereof, a conical-shaped cap fitting over said opening, levers carried by said cap and having teeth upon corresponding ends thereof, said levers designed for engagement underneath the roof, a rack member having teeth engaged by the teeth upon said levers, and a plunger extending through said cap and adapted to raise said rack member.

3. A roof of the character described comprising a plurality of sections constructed and mounted for movement from open positions into a snugly abutting position in a relation to form a circular-outlined roof and provided with a central opening at the upper end thereof, a conical-shaped cap fitted over said opening, a similar shaped reinforcing plate secured to the under surface of said cap and having an aperture in registration with the aperture in the cap and provided with ears projecting therefrom, levers pivoted to said ears and having shank portions extending underneath the roof, teeth upon corresponding ends of said levers, a hollow rack member in mesh with said teeth, a plunger movable through registering openings in said plate and cap and extending through an aperture in the bottom of the rack member, a head upon the lower end of said plunger and bearing against the bottom of the latter, a spring upon the plunger and interposed between said cap and bottom of the rack member.

carried by the supports, and havinga terminal inner portion located inwardly of the 10 aid base edge portions. of the roof sections. Intestimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of .t o Witnesses.

' CLYDE H; SNOW, sR.

Witnesses: Wall, and separate stationary eave elements 0,. ,M. CASLER, CLARA CASLER.

Copies of thisv patent may he obtained tor five, cents each, by addmssing, the, Commissioners! Hatents.

' I Washington, D. G... 

